Inking mechanism for printing machines



'Dec. 27, 1938. F. LAMATSCH 2,141,607

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 25, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet l ATRNEY 27, 1933- F. LAMATSCH INKING MECHANISM FORPRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 25; 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 9 MMAfiORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INKINGMECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Frederick Lamatsch, Grantwood, N. J.,assignor to R. Hoe & Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication December 23, 1936, Serial No. 117,259

Claims.

of single and multi-colored products may be produced, and which requiresthat sometimes certain of the printing couples be run as shown in thepatent to Pancoast 1,138,782 in reverse direction in respect to theothers to obtain the desired products.

In printing machines of the above type wherein a plurality of inkdistributing rollers are arranged in a train to evenly supply anddistribute ink from an ink reservoir to the form cylinder of a pair ofcooperating printing cylinders, it has been found desirable to alter thepath of the ink transfer whenever the direction of the printingcylinders is reversed, in order to more evenly and eflicientlydistribute ink upon the form. For this purpose, the arrangementdisclosed herein, provides a convenient manner of accomplishing thisresult. In accordance with this invention, the train of inking rollersand cylinders includes a form roller adapted to be peripherally adjustedabout the form cylinder into contact with either of a pair of inkcylinders disposed about and adjacent the form cylinder.

One object of this invention is to provide in an inking mechanism for aprinting machine means to alter the path of ink transfer from an inkingcylinder to the form cylinder when the direction of rotation of the formcylinder is reversed.

Another object is to provide a form roller disposed between a pair ofinking cylinders and sued July 15, 1934 wherein various combinationsWith the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an inking mechanism of aprinting machine embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the same with a form rollerin another position whereby the path of ink is altered to compensate fora reversal in the direction of rotation of the form cylinder of theprinting couples;

Figure 3 is an end view of a portion of the inking mechanism of aprinting machine showing the preferred arrangement by which a formroller may be adapted to be adjusted peripherally about a form cylinderto accomplish the results desired;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but on an enlarged scale andindicating by dotted lines the form roller in its adjusted position;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a section on line 66' of Figure 4.

The inking mechanism illustrated in the drawings is provided for thepurpose of supplying ink to a form l0 carried by a form cylinder [0 of acooperating pair of printing cylinders l0 and II, cylinder ll being theimpression cylinder. It will be understood that the printing machine isgenerally provided with more than one pair of such printing cylindersand that the same are driven in the usual manner. It will also beunderstood that in accordance with the teachings of the above mentionedpatent to Pancoast that the direction of rotation of certain of theprinting couples may be reversed whereby the associated inking rollerswill be reversed. As herein shown ink is supplied to the form ill on thecylinder ill from an ink reservoir or fountain 12 by means of aplurality of ink transfer rollers and inking cylinders. In thearrangement illustrated, an ink fountain roller 13 rotates in thereservoir 12 to provide a supply of ink above the level of the ink inthe reservoir in which the roller I3 is partially immersed. An inkductor roller l4 adapted to be oscillated into and out of contact withthe roller [3 transfers ink from the roller I3 to a continuouslyrevolving distributing roller l5.

Ink received on the roller I5 is transferred preferably bysimultaneously oscillating rollers l6 and I1 into contact with acontinuously revolving distributing cylinder l8 upon which ride rollersl9 and 25. The rollers l9 and 20 distribute ink about and over thesurface of the cylinder l8 and transfer it to inking cylinders 2| and 22respectively, upon each of which it is distributed over the surfacethereof by the respective roller in contact therewith. Each of thecylinders 2| and 22 have an ink form roller 23 and 24 respectively, inconstant contact therewith and with the form ID on thecylinder i9. Inorder to provide that a smooth and even distribution of ink is obtainedupon the cylinder N3, the rollers l6 and are mounted for oscillatingmovement between the roller i5 and the cylinder l8 whereby the cylinder3 may be rotated in synchronism with the form cylinder l0, and theroller l5 may be rotated at a speed substantially slower than that ofthe cylinder I8. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous in thehigh speed printing machines now in general use and insures even andsmooth distribution and transfer of ink from an ink reservoir to an inkdistributing cylinder.

The axes of the inking cylinders 2| and 22 are spaced apart sufficientlyto permit the mounting therebetween of an ink transfer form roller 25.

The roller 25 is mounted for adjustment p'e:

ripherally about the form cylinder I9, while in continuous contact withthe same, and into contact with either of the inking cylinders 2| or 22as desired, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The ink transferform rollers 23, 24 and 25 as arranged in accordance with thisinvention, evenly distribute ink upon the form cylinder l9, wherebyclear and sharply defined printed impressions are made upon a paper web.or other material, in web,'or sheet, form passed between the cylindersI0 and IL Referring to Figures 3-6 inclusive, the roller 25 .has itsshaft 26 journaled in brackets 21, ione being adjustably secured to eachof side frames 28 and 29 of the inking mechanism of the printingmachine.' Preferably, the connection between the respective frame 28 and29 and the bracket 21 thereon includes a groove 3| in one and a tongue32. on the other, both the groove 3| and the tongue ,32 beign arcuate inshape, the curvature thereof being concentric to the periphery of theform cylinder l9 by having the same center. Herein the tongue 32 isshown secured to the frame member 28, 29 by pins 38 and the groove 3| isformed in a base 39 upon which the bracket 2'l is slidably andadjustably mounted. A stud 33 secured in the respective frame passesthrough both the bracket 21 and the base 39 and is provided with nuts 30and 35' to clamp the parts in their adjusted positions on the frames. Anad justing screw 34 is provided for transversely adjusting the bracket21 on the base 39 to properly contact the roller 25 with the form on thecylinder H], to obtain the desired pressure thereof. An adjusting screw35 is provided for adjusting the bracket 21 through the base 39peripherally in respect to the cylinder in by being threaded into thebolt 33 and adapted upon being turned, to slide the base 39 upon thetongue 32 into the dotted position, as shown in Figure 4, whereby andcylinders, when the form cylinder I0 is rotat ing clockwise, ink,applied to the distributing cylinder I8, is transferred first to theroller 20 and later to the roller l9 due to the direction of rotation ofthe cylinder I8. A larger quantity of ink is therefore received by theroller 29 than is received, by the roller l9. The ink received by theroller 20 is transferred to the inking cylinder 22 and is sufficient tosupply the form rollers 24 and 25 with ink to be transferred to the formon the cylinder 0. Due to the direction of the path of ink transfer, inksupplied by the rollers 24 and 25 will be received by the form on thecylinder by one roller will not be removed by the next succeeding formroller, but anadditional quantity of ink will be transferred torthe formby each roller in its turn and evenly spread 'over its peripheralsurface. For instance, the roller 23 will receive and apply a smalleramount of ink to thecomparatively dry form, roller 25 will receive asomewhat greater amount of ink than roller 23 and apply it to the formin addition to that applied by the roller 23 and roller 24will'receiveand apply a still greater amount.

In instances, where it is desirable to reverse the direction of rotationof the printing cylinders i0 and I, as for instance, in accordance withthe requirements of the above referred to patent specifications, wherebythe direction of rotation of the inking rollers andcylinders forming oneunit are also reversed, as all, it is understood, are driven from thesame source, an equivalent path of ink transfer is desired, and this isobtained by adjusting the roller 25 into the position shown in Figure 2and in dotted lines in Figure 4.. In this arrangement, ink is receivedfirst by the roller I9 from the cylinder H3 and then by the roller 29,and ink is first received by the form on the'cylinder I!) from theroller 23 and then in turn from the rollers 25 and 24, thereby resultingin the same efficient distribution of ink over the form ID as aboveshown by the use of the arrangement shown in Figure l.

From the above, it will be understood that the invention discloses anarrangement of inking rollers whereby an improved inking mechanism isprovided, including a plurality of inking cylinders in combination witha printing cylinder, or member, and an ink transfer roller adapted to bemoved from contact with one of the inking cylinders into contact withanother while being maintained in contact with the printing member,whenever the direction of rotation of the inking cylinders, and thedirection of rotation of the printing cylinders, are reversed.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and'not restrictive, and itwill be further understood that each and every novel feature andcombination present in or possessed by the mechanism herein disclosedforms a part of the invention included in this application.

What I claim is:

1. In an inking mechanism for a rotary printing machine, a printingmember rotatable in either direction, a plurality of inking cylinders,

I a plurality of form rollers each in contact with said printing memberand with one of the plurality of inking cylinders, and another formroller in contact with said printing member and mounted for movementinto contact with any one of the inking cylinders.

2. In an inking mechanism for a rotary printing machine, a printingmember rotatable in either direction, a plurality of inking cylinders, aplurality of form rollers each in contact with said printing member andwith one of said inking cylinders, another form roller in contact withthe surface of said printing member, and means to move said last rollerabout and parallel with the surface of said printing member to disposesaid roller into contact with any one of said inking cylinders.

3. In an inking mechanism for a rotary printing machine, a printingmember rotatable in either direction, a plurality of inking cylinders, aplurality of form rollers each in contact with said printing member andwith one of said inking cylinders, another form roller in contact withthe surface of said printing member, a support for said last mentionedroller, and means to adjust said support in the direction said printingmember rotates to cause said last mentioned roller to be moved intocontact with one of said inking cylinders and out of contact withanother.

4. In an inking mechanism for a rotary printing machine, a printingmember rotatable in either direction, a plurality of inking cylinders, aplurality of form rollers, each in contact with said printing member andwith one of said inking cylinders, another form roller in contact withthe surface of said printing member, and means to move said lastmentioned roller in the direction of rotation of said printing memberwhile in contact with the peripheral surface thereof and into contactwith one of the inking cylinders and out of contact with another.

5. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a rotatable formcylinder carrying a form, a plurality of inking cylinders spaced apartaround and from said form cylinder, a plurality of form rollers each incontact with one of said inking cylinders and with the form, a formroller disposed between said inking cylinders in contact with said form,and means to adjust said last mentioned form roller into contact withany one of the inking cylinders.

6. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a rotatable formcylinder carrying a form, a plurality of inking cylinders spaced apartaround and from said form cylinder, a form roller disposed between saidinking cylinders in contact with said form, and means to adjust saidform roller into contact with any one of the inking cylinders.

7. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a form cylinder, aplurality of inking cylinders spaced apart around the formcylinder, aform roller disposed between said inking cylinders and in contact withsaid form cylinder, and means to adjust said roller peripherally aboutsaid form cylinder into contact with any one of said inking cylinders.

8. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a form cylindercarrying a form, an ink distributing cylinder, a pair of inkingcylinders, an ink transfer roller between said distributing cylinder andeach one of said inking cylinders, and means to change the path of inktransfer from said distributing cylinder to said form in accordance withthe direction of rotation of said form cylinder, including a form rollerin contact with said form and adjustable into contact with either inkingcylinder.

9. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a form cylindercarrying a form, an ink reservoir having an ink supplying rollertherein, an ink receiving roller, an oscillating ductor roller adaptedto contact said ink supplying roller and said ink receiving roller, anink distributing cylinder, a pair of simultaneously oscillating inktransfer rollers adapted to alternately contact said ink receivingroller and said distributing cylinder, and means to transfer ink fromsaid distributing cylinder to said form including, a plurality of inkingcylinders and a form roller in contact with said form and selectivelymovable into contact with said inking cylinders.

19. In an inking mechanism for a rotary printing machine, a formcylinder carrying a form, a pair of spaced apart inking cylinders spacedfrom said form cylinder, and a form roller, mounted for movementselectively into contact with either of said inking cylinders while incontact with said form.

11. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a form cylindercarrying a form, a pair of spaced apart inking cylinders spaced fromsaid form cylinder, a form roller, and means including brackets forsupporting said roller, said brackets being mounted for movement tocarry said roller selectively into contact with either inking cylinder.

12. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a form cylindercarrying a form, a pair of spaced apart inking cylinders spaced fromsaid form cylinder, and a form roller, a bracket for supporting each endof said roller, a frame member at each end of said roller, each of saidbrackets being mounted on a frame member for arcuate sliding movement tocarry said roller selectively into contact with either inking cylinder.

13. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a form cylindercarrying a form, a pair of spaced apart inking cylinders spaced fromsaid form cylinder, and a form roller, a bracket for supporting each endof said roller, a frame member at each end of said roller, means toslidingly mount each of said brackets to the frame member including anarcuate tongue on one and an arcuate groove in the other, whereby saidbrackets are guided in sliding movements in respect to the frame memberto carry said roller from contact with one inking cylinder into contactwith the other.

14. In an inking mechanism for a printing machine, a form cylindercarrying a form, a pair of inking cylinders, an ink transfer rollerbetween said inking cylinders, and means movable in an arc concentric tothe periphery of said form cylinder to carry said roller from contactwith one of said inking cylinders into contact with the other.

15. In an inking mechanism, a rotatable printing member, two inkcarrying cylinders spaced apart and adjacent the surface of said member,an ink transfer roller in contact with said member, and means to adjustsaid roller into contact with either of said cylinders while it is incontact with said member.

FREDERICK LAMATSCH.

